War headdresses are worn by deserving men of many great plains tribes and are still used today in religious and cultural ceremonies. The use of war headdresses by people unrelated to Indian tribes is a questionable and controversial practice, as many Native Americans view it as cultural misappropriation. If you are a stranger to the Native American world, just use the war headdress as a wall decoration and never wear it, or at least avoid wearing it in contexts where it can offend other people.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Prepare the Feathers
Step 1. Purchase the feathers
According to tradition, the most commonly used feathers are those of pheasant, capercaillie, turkey and eagle feathers. The right to wear these feathers, particularly eagle and turkey feathers, is usually earned by performing acts of courage. It is advisable to use feathers that are considered less sacred and more commonly available in craft shops. Long solid feathers are best suited.
- A bird's tail feathers have different curvature depending on which side of the tail they are located on. To make a more symmetrical war headdress, separate the feathers that curl to the right from those that curl to the left and arrange them on different sides of the headdress.
- See the section on how to properly use a war headgear if you are not familiar with its history.
Step 2. Straighten the feathers (if necessary)
If the feathers are folded or extremely curled, they must be straightened to obtain a uniform and pleasant headdress. Grab the feather from both ends and lay it on a warm bulb turning it occasionally, then let it cool while holding it straight.
- Alternatively, steam the feather from an iron or kettle, or squeeze it with your thumbnail along its entire length. There is a serious risk of feather breaking using these methods, so try them on replacement feathers first.
- Note that feathers slightly bent to the left or right are fine, as long as there are enough feathers to arrange on opposite sides of the headpiece.
Step 3. Trim the tips and stems of the feathers
Using a knife, give the feathers a rounded shape, then smooth the veins of the feathers with your fingers, so that there are no loose edges or frayed edges. If the stems are broken, cut off the broken part to get even ends.
If the intact part of the stem is less than 6.5 cm, insert a wooden dowel into the hollow end of the stem to make it easier to attach it to the headpiece
Step 4. Attach a leather loop to each feather
Cut thin, stiff strips of leather, approximately 6mm wide and 10.8cm long. Fold each strip into a "sandwich" on the end of the feather, so that the fold in the leather forms a small loop under the tip, just enough to insert a string. Attach the pen to the leather strip with glue, allowing it to dry before continuing.
If you prefer to use traditional materials, you can connect the feather to the leather strip by punching a hole in the feather with an awl, and then tie the feathers and strips with a waxed cord
Step 5. Wrap the pens in pieces of felt
Cut strips of red felt about 3.8cm wide and 10.8cm long. Wrap each piece of felt around the leather sheath of each feather, leaving the ring on the bottom uncovered. Tie the felt to the top and bottom of the stem creating a loop with very strong thread, tie a knot, then apply a drop of glue to the knot to increase its durability.
Step 6. Add a red bow on the end of each feather (optional)
In the traditional society of the Prairie Indians, red ribbons were awarded only as a sign of great honor or for counting many "hits". If you want to imitate this custom, glue a small, soft red pen on the tip of each feather.
Part 2 of 3: Creating the War Headdress
Step 1. Look for a cap or headband
Sometimes referred to as a "crown", the typical base of a war headdress consists of a round cap made of leather or felt. You can also use a long headband, which can be wrapped and tied around the head of the person wearing the headdress. If the headgear is intended to be worn rather than shown, the cap should fit snugly over the wearer's head, dropping just above the eyebrows and midway up the ears.
- Traditionally, this cap or headband was made from deerskin or bison.
- You can build the crown yourself by curling a piece of leather or felt to form a dome, cutting out the overlapping pieces and sewing them together.
Step 2. Drill holes on the edge of the shell
Arrange the feathers along the cap or headband at regular intervals. Pierce the shell with an awl, or cut small slits with a sharp knife. There should be two holes for each feather, on either side of the stem.
The feathers of a war headdress generally extend from ear to ear at a minimum, tucking over the forehead. Feathers can also be worn singly or in small groups, symbolizing a lower social status
Step 3. Thread a string through the loops of the feathers and the holes in the cap
Secure the feathers to the shell by threading a waxed leather cord through the holes in the shell and the feather loops in the order you placed them. Tie the cord at each end with a strong knot, strengthening it with glue if necessary.
You can use strong wire instead, but it is unlikely to last very long
Step 4. Add another lanyard (optional)
Ideally, the feathers should remain straight and parallel to each other, or flared outward in a conical shape. If the feathers fall in other directions, you can drill additional holes in the cap, halfway between the tip and the edge. Tie a second string around the feathers in this position to keep them in place.
Step 5. Add a faceplate (optional)
Many, but not all, headdresses have a beaded or feathered browband placed on the wearer's forehead. In some specialty stores, you can buy a pre-made browband, but you can build it by hand by gluing colored beads onto a strip of felt or leather. To attach the faceplate, sew it to the shell from the center outwards with a leather cord or strong thread. To tie it, drill holes no larger than 1.25 cm.
Purchase an original faceplate made by a Plains Indian tribe to support those who still follow this custom
Step 6. Add side pendants (optional)
Another common decoration and status symbol, the side pendants are two long strips of fur that hang from each side of the headdress, just above the ears. Traditionally, ermine tails were used, but today white rabbit fur strips are more readily available. Sew the strips together using the same string you used for the feathers or browband.
Step 7. Create and add rosettes (optional)
The term "cockade" refers to any circular decoration found on the war headdress. They can consist of beads, furs or even additional feathers tied in a circular position. They are usually attached with additional leather cords and can cover the attachment points of the side pendants.
Part 3 of 3: Use the War Headgear Appropriately
Step 1. Learn about the history of the war headdress
Only members of Native American tribes from the Great Plains region traditionally wore the war headdress. In American movies and tourist shows, on the other hand, other Native Americans or even white actors are often seen wearing fake war headdresses, so many people now mistakenly associate the war headgear with natives from all over the New World.
Examples of tribes who used the war headdress include the Sioux, Crow, Blackfoot, Cheyenne, and Plains Cree
Step 2. Learn about the meaning of the war headdress for American Indians
In the original tribes that invented it, only male leaders and warriors wore it. They were, and still are, presented as a great honor and reserved primarily for official ceremonies. Just like a military uniform, crown, or other status symbol, people in these tribes don't make them and don't wear them for fun, much less without having earned the right to wear them.
Step 3. Take off your headgear if prompted to do so
If you are not using it in the context of a ceremony organized by a great plains tribe, many members of these tribes may disapprove of your wearing a war headdress. Native Americans from other tribes may also ask you to take it off, perhaps because they or their family members have been forced to wear it for tourism purposes, or have been subjected to stereotypical judgments and bullying in connection with wearing a war headgear. Even if you disagree with another person's interpretation or request, removing the headgear in their presence shows respect and politeness.
